The Belt of Fire (Julie Black Belt #2)

by Oliver Chin (Author) Charlene Chua (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

This long-awaited sequel to Julie Black Belt: The Kung Fu Chronicles picks up as Julie proudly wears her yellow belt and is eager to attain her next rank: orange! Still inspired by Brandy Wu, an action movie star, Julie now meets a new student in her class...but is he better than her? Can Julie learn to improve her abilities while becoming a gracious partner, and ultimately earning her own Belt of Fire?

It's like when her heroine Brandy Wu in a movie seeks a treasure but must combat a mysterious opponent! Another experienced teacher gives Julie valuable advice, but is Julie brave enough to make this wisdom her own? Artist Charlene Chua’s colorful, action-packed illustrations make Julie’s quest one that any aspiring martial arts practitioner, as well as their parents and instructors, will enjoy.

Children and parents identify with this spunky female star who is willing to give all she’s got. Julie is a fan favorite and young readers make her vivid story their own. Again this is an engaging introduction of martial arts to young children who enroll in after school programs. Inspired by a real girl in a taekwondo class, this story’s lessons are applicable to any martial art, such as karate, ju-jitsu, aikido, judo, and wrestling.

Kung fu means a skill achieved through consistent dedication. But Julie discovers that knowing the correct moves isn’t the most important thing. Teachers appreciate how the story promotes respect, conflict resolution, and self-defense, which in turn improves focus and concentration. Training builds confidence and social skills and improves physical fitness (coordination, balance, posture). Artist Charlene Chua’s vibrant drawings capture Julie’s high-flying action with dynamism and verve.

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School Library Journal

Gr 1-4--In this sequel to Julie Black Belt: The Kung Fu Chronicles (Immedium, 2007), martial-arts student Julie's dominance in class is threatened when a new boy joins the group. While trying to show off their skills, both kids struggle until a visiting master teacher refocuses them on doing their individual best rather than on competing with each other. The story, while predictable, is satisfying. The inclusion of girls and women in the main story and in the subplot (a kung fu movie starring Julie's favorite female martial artist) is refreshing. The cartoon-style digital art is bright and lively. Despite a somewhat hokey concluding sentence (."..she ran toward the door and into the sunlight beyond"), children drawn to the martial arts will find this an appealing read. A suitable purchase for libraries that already own the first title in the series.--Maralita L. Freeny, District of Columbia Public Library

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Fast paced and engaging throughout, Julie Black Belt: The Belt of Fire will hold the attention of young readers...The character of Julie continues to give young girls a strong female protagonist with which to identify...Once again, Chin has provided young readers with a fun, informative and interesting story that should engage even the most reluctant reader while providing a rich source of information and thought-provoking concepts. Recommended." - Canadian Review of Materials magazine

"#1 Top Pick: Sports that teach self-defense are particularly good at instilling a sense of respect for self, for others, and the capability of one's own body. That's why we've put Julie Black Belt at the top of our list." - TowardTheStars

"Appealing, brightly colored illustrations bring to life this story about the values of sportsmanship and being a respectful partner or teammate, in training or any other activity. Highly recommended." - Midwest Book Review

"On her quest for her next belt, Julie learns that it's more important to look inside at your own progress than to compare yourself to someone else. She also learns the value of co-operation. The illustrations are colourful and fun, and even when the characters are just standing still, there is a feeling of action." - Pacific Wave Jiu Jitsu

"This is a great sequel to Julie Black Belt: Kung Fu Chronicles...Like the Yin and the Yang, you must work together in order to make your individual skills better. This is a very important lesson, in this day and age where everything is turned into a competition. Yes, there may be people better than you - but you can use that to make your skills better." - Squishable Baby

"My daughter was happy to see this as she too is a little ball of energy and there aren't many English books with Asian girl characters like her! The comic book style fits well with the high energy character and Chua's illustrations are great fun. We can't wait for the next Julie Black Belt book!" - Perogies & Gyoza

"What I love about both of these books is how it takes the girl to be the heroine in a typically male sport. I also love how it brings races (Brandon is white) together to have the same goal of bettering each person. The messages are so well woven into the stories. In the first book, Julie learns to not give up and keep trying even when it seems hard. In the second book, Julie and Brandon learn not to compare themselves to others, but to focus on oneself. The books themselves are written in an almost comic form, so it is a great way to expose younger children to comics and the upcoming graphic novels. I read the first book to Hazel this morning and she really liked it. She cannot wait to hear the second one." - Crafty Moms Share
Oliver Chin
Oliver Chin has written The Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series, Baltazar and the Flying Pirates, Welcome to Monster Isle, Timmy and Tammy's Train of Thought, and The Adventures of WonderBaby. He is writing Julie Black Belt's sequel and lives in San Francisco, California.

Charlene Chua was born in Singapore and raised on a diet of American cartoons and music in the midst of a booming Asian city. She now is an award-winning illustrator living with her husband and cats in Toronto, Canada, and illustrating Julie Black Belt's sequel.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781597020794
Lexile Measure
650
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Immedium
Publication date
October 08, 2013
Series
Julie Black Belt
BISAC categories
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV011020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV032070 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Martial Arts
Library of Congress categories
Conduct of life
Competition (Psychology)
Kung fu

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